Luminaire



June 15, 1965 A v. s. WINCE 3,189,740

LUMINAIRE Filed Oct. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l All@ im uw I C'. 3 PT 35)"Hll' INVENTOR. Km2/ S. W/A/ca ATTORNEY S United States Patent O3,189,740 LUMINAIRE Vearl S. Wince, Newark, Ohio, assigner to HolophaneCompany, Inc., New York, NY., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 9,1962, Ser. No. 229,330 Claims. (Cl. 240--78) The invention relates tolightweight luminaires for the lighting of interior or protected outdoorareas, and more particularly to a surface mounted luminaire of the typedescribed.

The luminaire and fixture provided according to the invention ispreferably attached to standard flush-mounted junction boxes, but ifdesired can also be mounted remote from junction boxes on suitableportions of a ceiling.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fixture having alightweight plastic, or the like, refractor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a luminaire of thetype described with a hinged, lightweight plastic lens and, in thisrespect, the hinge construction connecting the lightweight lens and thefixture housing is made compatible with comparatively heavy dutyoperation.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide for convectioncooling of the combined parts of the luminaire whereby heat damage tothe lightweight refractor is eliminated.

Accordingly, the luminaire of the present invention has a lightweightrefractor made of a plastic or like material, affording relatively lowproduction costs, greater safety if broken, and relatively easymovability. The lightweight, plastic refractor is provided with asimple, unobtrusive, but comparatively heavy duty, hinge structure,adapted to be supported by a simple hinge trackway atiixed to themounting plate fixture of the luminaire. The hinge trackway includes twoprincipal portions, a first portion supporting the hinge pin of therefractor in the closed position thereof, and a second trackway portionsupporting the hinge pin in the open position of the refractor.

In a luminaire of the above described type, the heat generated by thelamp must be properly dispersed. If no provision for the dispersal ofthe generated heat is made the temperature could cause damage to thewires in the junction box, to the ceiling structure material in contactwith the luminaire, and last but not least, the plastic materialcomprising the refractor lens. Accordingly, the mounting fixture plateof the luminaire of the present invention is spaced from the ceiling,whereby the ambient air can circulate freely by means of convectionbetween the greater part of the area of the mounting fixture plate andthe adjacent ceiling. The remaining parts of the mounting plate, forwhich no provision is made for the cooling by convection currents isseparated from the junction box by means of heat insulation of anydesired type.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description and the appended drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the luminaire according to the invention;

VFIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view, partly broken away, taken along theline 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE2;

lhfl'd Patented .inne l5, 1965 FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary portion of thehinge shown in FIGURE 2, shown in the open position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken along line 5 5 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of thehinge mounting; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the hinge trackway.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 a luminaire 1 is shown. The top portion of theluminaire 1 comprises a mounting fixture or plate 2, which is spacedfrom an adjacent ceiling mounting surface C. (FIG. 2 only) by a spacingridge 4. The spacing ridge 4 divides the upper surface of the mountingfixture 2 into an area 6, which is exposed to the ambient air and relieson convection currents for the cooling of the top side of the exposedportion 6 of the mounting fixture 2. The portion 8 of the mounting fix--ture 2, which is within the spacing ridge 4, is separated from themounting surface and a junction box J by a suitable layer of appropriateinsulating material.

In FIGURES l and 2, two incandescent lamps L are shown within theluminaire 1 disposed within conventional incandescent lamp sockets 12.The sockets 12 are mounted in a conventional manner within the luminaire1.

In the embodiment shown, a sheet metal mounting strap 14 is attached bymeans of bolts 15 to the junction box I which is in turn mounted in theceiling C. The mounting fixture 2 of the luminaire is attached from themounting `strap by means of a nut 16 and a bolt 18.

The outer edge 2Q of the mounting fixture 2 is turned downward aroundall sides of the mounting fixture and is adapted to accept the topflange 22 of a lightweight plastic refractor lens 24. The lens 24 isprovided with outside prisms 26 and 28, and inside prism 30 fordirecting light from the source L efficiently.

The refractor lens 24 is preferably made of a lightweight, translucentor transparent plastic material such as Lucite (an acrylic resin) or thelike, which can be manufactured at low cost and affords greater safetyif broken, than prior art glass refractor lenses.

In order to provide a rugged hinge assembly for the otherwiselightweight lens 24, a pair of axially aligned hinge pins 32 (FIGS. 2-6)are provided adjacent to the ends of two opposing sides of the lens 24.In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the hinge pins 32 are not moldedintegrally with the refractor lens 24, but are made integral with plates34 made of high strength translucent or transparent plastic such aspolycarbonate or the like. End plate 34, integral with hinge pin 32 issecured to the lens 24 by means of rivets 36, for which preformedapertures a and a are provided in the plates 34 and lens side walls,respectively. Each of said hinge pins are preferably formed with anangular and a curved surface, for reasons to be described subsequently.

Each of the hinge pins 32 is adapted to move along a hinge track 38,molded integrally with a track mounting plate 40. The track 3S and itsmounting plate 40, like hinge pins 32 and plates 34, are preferably madeof clear plastic so as not to create dark shadows on the adjacentportions of the refractor lens 24. The track mounting plate 40 isattached by rivets 42 to the fixture mounting plate 2.

On the unhinged side of the refractor 24, a slidable tongue 46 ismounted under the mounting plate and is,

5.# along with an integral handle portion 54 thereof, guided for outwardand inward movements via a bolt 56 and slot 56a arrangement in the topportion of the mounting plate. The tongue 46 is biased constantlyoutward by a compression spring 52. The tongue, at its outward end, isformed with bevelled edge 4S and a flat retaining edge 56. A slot 44 isprovided in the unhinged side of the lens 24, and is aligned with thetongue 46, so that when the lens is being shut, the lower edge of theslot slides past the bevel edge 48 and pushes the tongue 46 against thespring S2. ofthe tongue 46, the tongue slides forward as pressed by thespring and enters the slot.

In the closed position of the lens 24, with the upper edge of the slot44 supported by the retaining edge Sil back plate and inwardly of theedges thereof, said ridge circumposing inner portions of said backplate. Y

3. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein said light transmissiveV lensenclosure .is made of a lightweight thermo- After the slot has clearedthe bevel edge ofthe tongue 46, the hinge pin 32 rests on a small, upperi horizontal surface 58 of the hinge track 38. To open-the lens forrelamping, cleaning or other maintenance, the tongue 46 is withdrawnfrom the slot 44 by applying slight inward pressure to the latch handle54. i The lens 24 will start to pivot on the pins 32. As the lens pivotsdownward, the upper portion of the pivoted side of the lens 24approaches the end of the downwardly bent outer edge of the mountingfixture and contacts it along one or more points of a line at 6G (FIG.2), and the pivotal center `of the lens opening motion becomestemporarily transferred to along the line 60, forcing the pivot pins 32off the upper horizontal surface 58 of the track 3S. The pins .32subsequentlyk slide down the track 38 to a lower portion 62 thereof,where the pins 32 come to rest. The lens may now pivot around the pins32 in the lower portion 62.

As best seen in FIGURE 6, the hinge pin 32 is formed with two iiat outersides disposed at a l90 angle relative to each other, and an arcuateportion disposed opposite the sides and connecting the same. The curvingportion is adapted to contact the hinge track 38 at all positions of thelens, while the flat sides of the hinge pin 32 are adapted to snugly fitinto the corner formed between the mounting .iixture plate 2 and itsouter edge 2li. This snug or wedge-like iit is assured by the close iitof the lens beneath the fixture skirt and by the fact that the latchedside of the lens is maintained in its horizontal position via the actionof the latch. rFhus, it is assured that at the time of closing the lens,the hinge pin will be retained on the horizontal surface 58 and anypossibility of the hinge pin dropping down, unwantedly onto the lowerportion 62 of the hinge track, is eliminated.

if desired, the lens can be :removed from the track 38 by freeing thepins from the hinge track entirely by lifting the lens and moving itaway from the hinge tracks the thickness of which track is accommodatedby the provision of the vertical spacing between the hinge pins and therear or hinged sidewall of the lens, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.

It is understood, while only one embodiment of thev invention was shown,the scope, thereof, is to be interpreted from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

i. A luminaire for substantial flush mounting upon a mounting surface,comprising a fixture housing, said housing including a back plate withlan outer surface for facing the mounting surface, spacing meansextending outwardly of said outer surface and disposed inwardly of theedges of said back plate for contacting the mounting surface and forspacing said back plate a slight distance therefrom, light and heatgenerating means depending below said back plate and disposed adjacentthe inner surface thereof, a light transmissive lens enclosure havingsides, the upper edges of which oppose the inner surfaces of said backplate adjacent the edges thereof, the area of said back plate extendingbetween the outer edges thereof and said spacing means being exposed toambient templastic material, complementary meansyare connected to saidfixture housing and to said lens enclosure for hinging said lensenclosure to said housing and for securing the same in a closedpositionwith respect thereto and said complementary -means are made of light`transmissive heavy duty plastic material.

4. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein complementary means are connectedto `said fixture housing and to said lens `enclosure for hinging saidlens to said housing and for securing said lens enclosure in the closedposition with respect thereto, said lens enclosure complementary meanscomprise a pair of j opposing pins extending inwardly and coaxiallytoward one another `from the inner surfaces of opposing lens enclosuresides adjacent said upper edges thereof, and said, fiixturecomplementary means consist of upwardly facing tracltways for freelyreceiving said pins and `extending downwardly `and inwardly from saidfixture housing and beneath and inwardly of said pins. y

5. The luminaire of claim 4, wherein a housing skirt depends from saidback plate and extends around the outer surfaces of `said lensyenclosure sides adjacent said upper edges, the uppermost surfaces ofsaid trackways are spaced from'the inner surfaces of said back plate andsaid pins are formed withupper and outer surfaces conforming to saidinner surfaces `of said back plate and the inner surface of said housingskirt, said upper and outer surfaces of said pins being in flushengagement with said inner surfaces of said back plate and said skirtwhen said Vlens enclosure is in the closed position, and said pins aresupported on said kuppermost surfaces of said trackways, the portion ofsaid housing skirt opposite said complementarymeans includes supportmeans for latching and holding said lens` enclosure in the closedposition with said pins wedged in ush alignment with said tixture backplate and housing skirt.

6. The luminaire of claim 5 wherein said pins are convex along theirinner `and lower surfaces and the lower upwardly facing surfaces of saidtrackways are concave and receive the convex surfaces of said pins whensaid lens enclosure is swung to an open position with respect to saidxture housing.

'7. The luminaire of claim 5,V wherein said lens enclosure sides includea front and back side `and said pins extend parallel and adjacent saidback side, the top edge of said back side being spaced from andunderlying and extending in planes below said pins, the ush alignment ofsaid outside surfacesof said pins withsaid housing skirt disposing saidback side in Vertical side by side alignment with the associated portionof said housing skirt, the space between said pins and said back side`accommodating the thickness of the innermost portions of said tr-ackwayswhereby assembly of said pins, on and off said trackway surfaces isaccomplished by passing the trackways betweenrsaid top edge of said backside and said pins.

8. A lens for a ceiling fixture and the like comprising a web and sidesextending from the edges 'of said web, said lens being made of a lightltransmissive lightweight thermoplastic material, and a pairiof hingeelements extending inwardly'of said sides towardsone another, meansconnecting said hinge elements to a respective lens side, said hinge'elements being fabricated ofy a lighttransrnissive heavy dutyplasticrmaterial, each of said hinge elements includinga wall connectedto a respective hinge side and a pin integral with said hinge elementwall, said pins extending adjacent the upper edges of said sides andincluding outer surfaces which are ilat for flush alignment withsimilarly shaped and associated xture parts.

9. The lens of claim 8, wherein the inner surfaces of said pins areconvexly formed for rolling pivotal movement upon associated xtureparts.

10. The lens of claim 8, wherein said lens sides include a back side andsaid pins extend parallel and adjacent said back side, the free edge ofsaid back side being diminished in height relative to the other saidsides and being spaced from said pins, the space between said pins andsaid back side providing a passageway for associated fixture pinsupporting elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Levy 240-47Florence 240-5 1,11 Carlson 240-78 Stephenson et al 2410-5111 Dvorak240-147 Cohen 24U-147 McGinty 240-147 Kushner 240-5 1.11 Boutelle 240-78NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

1. A LUMINAIRE FOR SUBSTANTIAL FLUSH MOUNTING UPON A MOUNTING SURFACE,COMPRISING A FIXTURE HOUSING, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A BACK PLATE WITHAN OUTER SURFACE FOR FACING THE MOUNTING SURFACE, SPACING MEANSEXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID OUTER SURFACE AND DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THEEDGES OF SAID BACK PLATE FOR CONTACTING THE MOUNTING SURFACE AND FORSPACING SAID BACK PLATE A SLIGHT DISTANCE THEREFROM, A LIGHT AND HEATGENERATING MEANS DEPENDING BELOW SAID BACK PLATE AND DISPOSED ADJACENTTHE INNER SURFACE THEREOF, A LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE LENS ENCLOSURE HAVINGSIDES, THE UPPER EDGES OF WHICH OPPOSE THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID BACKPLATE ADJACENT THE EDGES THEREOF, THE AREA OF SAID BACK PLATE EXTENDINGBETWEEN THE OUTER EDGES THEREOF AND SAID SPACING MEANS BEING EXPOSED TOAMBIENT TEMPERATURES WHEN SAID LUMINAIRE IS MOUNTED ON THE MOUNTINGSURFACE.